Believe it or not, a well-constructed pond should take less maintenance than a lawn that is aerated, fertilized & mowed with any semblance of consistency. Why? Because the whole idea behind creating a great pond is the formation of an independent ecosystem...a self-sustaining habitat for both flora & fauna. If the groundwork is properly laid, there are only a few things to worry about to ensure that your koi or goldfish never go "Belly Up". Stick to these basic points of pond maintenance, and you should be able to enjoy your new ecosystem for many years to come.
One of the most important things you should concern yourself with is the water level. Evaporation is a natural aspect of any ecosystem, and it must be monitored weekly. Unlike a sea or lake of any kind of volume, your pond does not have the ability to hold as much water during the rainy seasons as it will lose during the dry seasons. Check the levels often & fill as needed to ensure a fresh infusing of water for the health and safety of all plant & animal life in your habitat. If your level has not dropped 10% in 3 weeks, pump some of your water out and add fresh water in. Be sure to add a dechlorinator to offset the amount chlorine that is in the new water. Follow the instructions of the specific product's packaging for optimal performance.
Next, check your pond for decaying plants and other debris that could "break down" at the bottom of your pond. This "break down" can release toxins that will harm, and even kill, your fish over time. Besides being unhealthy for your water features ecosystem, no one wants to gather around a pond that is full of rotting plants and algae all summer long. Take a few minutes and remove any thing that you find from the bottom of your pond at least every 2 weeks.
Finally, check your ponds filtering system every 5 weeks for clogs or other obstructions that would inhibit the proper flow of water. Remember, your filter should be running 24/7 with no interruptions, turning over the total water volume in about 2 hours. If it stops for even a few hours, it could lose a huge amount of its beneficial bacteria. To gain this back could take upwards of 4 weeks depending on what was lost! You will need to clean your filter as often as necessary to ensure a healthy ecosystem for your pond. The frequency will vary greatly depending on what type of filter you are using, and how large your pond is. Some mechanical filters will need to be cleaned monthly while a good biomechanical (mat based) filter may only need to be cleaned 2-3 times per year! The best way to know is to always check your water clarity! The less clear, the less filtration!
With a little bit of maintenance, a pond can become a wonderfully relaxing place for the entire family to enjoy. Follow these simple rules, with a little bit of consistency, and your pond will give you nothing but pleasure for many years to come.
About the Author
After being a student of the University of Oregon's Architecture & Allied Arts program, Joel Stephens began a 10-year journey in furniture design & manufacturing. As well as being an ASID Industry Partner for lines he created, Joel established Peniel Products, an online retailer of Home Furnishings and Decor.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Commercial and Pond Pumps
In order to keep your pond looking like a pond, it is necessary to have a pump. Without this vital piece of equipment, your lovely pond could turn into something resembling a marshland. Pond water pumps have the never ending task of taking care of all the water in a pond by circulating it every couple of hours, and filtering it as well. Water that doesn't move gets stagnant and sometimes develops a tell tail odor if allowed to stay that way for very long. Stagnant water is a favorite spot for mosquitoes to gather and raise their young. No one wants a large pond full of mosquito larvae, as they can spread diseases to man such as West Nile virus and Encephalitis. So, it stands to reason that you should try to use the very best pump you can find, not only to keep your pond looking good, but to prevent serious illness.
The size of the pump you get will depend on the size of your pond. Generally, a classic pump will have a gallons per hour rating of half of the total volume of the pond. So, a 5000 gallon pond will need a pump that will handle at least 5000 gallons per hour, or GPH in pump language. You should always purchase a pump that can handle the amount of water in your pond, and then some for best results. Keeping the water clear in your pond does not have to be a difficult undertaking.
Do it yourself pond owners as well as professionals who install ponds know that what they choose to pump pond water will also have a lot to do with whether or not the pond will develop algae. It is possible to have a pond that will not develop algae, as unbelievable as this may sound. Algae control is only difficult when you allow it to get out of hand. If you have a superb classic pump and filter and are watchful, algae will be one worry you will never have.
Custom pond pumps also have their place in the scheme of things. If there are fish in your pond, you might want to consider the purchase of a custom pond pump. Fish need oxygen in order to live and reproduce. The right pump will add plenty of oxygen so that your fish will thrive. You should also think about the type of motor that the pump you choose will have. The motor should be capable of running constantly, for if you turn off your pump, you run the risk of upsetting the natural biological balance, which can take some time to form.
Even the bodies of water that are located in your city use municipal pumps to keep the water clear and clean. No city that cares anything about what visitors to the area will think of their surroundings wants anything but a pond or fountain that looks pristine and inviting. Commercial pumps are really no different from the ones you would purchase for your own pond. The only real difference is that they are made from a material that is a little more durable. Classic Pumps are a lot more popular and in greater use than most people realize.
About the Author
Almost 15 years ago, Canfield Custom pumps designed and built the first dedicated floating pump system, Turbi-Float. The Turbi-Float answers your requests for a high performance floating pump system where ease of installation, reliability, and low maintenance are required.
The size of the pump you get will depend on the size of your pond. Generally, a classic pump will have a gallons per hour rating of half of the total volume of the pond. So, a 5000 gallon pond will need a pump that will handle at least 5000 gallons per hour, or GPH in pump language. You should always purchase a pump that can handle the amount of water in your pond, and then some for best results. Keeping the water clear in your pond does not have to be a difficult undertaking.
Do it yourself pond owners as well as professionals who install ponds know that what they choose to pump pond water will also have a lot to do with whether or not the pond will develop algae. It is possible to have a pond that will not develop algae, as unbelievable as this may sound. Algae control is only difficult when you allow it to get out of hand. If you have a superb classic pump and filter and are watchful, algae will be one worry you will never have.
Custom pond pumps also have their place in the scheme of things. If there are fish in your pond, you might want to consider the purchase of a custom pond pump. Fish need oxygen in order to live and reproduce. The right pump will add plenty of oxygen so that your fish will thrive. You should also think about the type of motor that the pump you choose will have. The motor should be capable of running constantly, for if you turn off your pump, you run the risk of upsetting the natural biological balance, which can take some time to form.
Even the bodies of water that are located in your city use municipal pumps to keep the water clear and clean. No city that cares anything about what visitors to the area will think of their surroundings wants anything but a pond or fountain that looks pristine and inviting. Commercial pumps are really no different from the ones you would purchase for your own pond. The only real difference is that they are made from a material that is a little more durable. Classic Pumps are a lot more popular and in greater use than most people realize.
About the Author
Almost 15 years ago, Canfield Custom pumps designed and built the first dedicated floating pump system, Turbi-Float. The Turbi-Float answers your requests for a high performance floating pump system where ease of installation, reliability, and low maintenance are required.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Adding A Koi Pond To Your Home & Garden Bridges
Adding A Koi Pond To Your Home
One of the newest crazes that are catching on with homeowners is the koi pond. Koi ponds are in ground water gardens that contain koi fish and are deep enough to support life year round even in colder winter climates. Many homeowners are finding it to be a great addition to their front or backyard. The can add great scenery and a tranquil environment for you to relax in.
There are two different ways to add a koi pond to your home. First of all, you could call a landscaping company to add one for you. Many landscaping companies have added this to their list of services due to its popularity. This would be as simple as looking thru the yellow pages and calling landscaping companies to see if they offer this service and see what the prices are. Once their service is completed all you would have to do is add the fish that you choose.
The second way to add a koi pond to your home would be to install it yourself. This way will require a little more patience and dedication. You would first have to start with digging a hole for the pond. It is recommended that the hole is a least 4 feet deep and 4-5 feet wide. Then you would have to install your pond liner. You must install a liner or else you will risk getting debris into your pond from the ground. Then you need to install your filtration system. Flirtation systems can be tricky, so your best bet would be to go into your local pet shop and let them know your needs and dimensions of your pond. Your next step would be to add plants and vegetation to your pond. Types of plants and vegetation you should use depend on the type of climate you live in and can be researched online. Your final step would be to pick out your koi fish and add them to your pond.
Many people do not want this to be the last step in finishing their koi pond but instead add other decorative elements to their pond. These decorative elements can include decorative rocks, sculptures, and decorative redwood bridges which come in many different shapes and varieties. All of these items can be purchased online rather than fishing around at a local store for each item.
Both of these ways are good methods of adding a koi pond to your backyard. You just have to choose which method is best for you. Either way you do it, once your pond is complete it will be there for you to enjoy for years to come.
Contact infomation: 559-325-2597 Joe Guraro info@redwoodgardenbridges.com http://www.RedwoodGardenBridges.com
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About the Author
Building Quality handcrafted Redwood Garden Bridges at affordable prices for use in your garden, landscape yard, water garden or pond. Serving the entire USA since 1998.
One of the newest crazes that are catching on with homeowners is the koi pond. Koi ponds are in ground water gardens that contain koi fish and are deep enough to support life year round even in colder winter climates. Many homeowners are finding it to be a great addition to their front or backyard. The can add great scenery and a tranquil environment for you to relax in.
There are two different ways to add a koi pond to your home. First of all, you could call a landscaping company to add one for you. Many landscaping companies have added this to their list of services due to its popularity. This would be as simple as looking thru the yellow pages and calling landscaping companies to see if they offer this service and see what the prices are. Once their service is completed all you would have to do is add the fish that you choose.
The second way to add a koi pond to your home would be to install it yourself. This way will require a little more patience and dedication. You would first have to start with digging a hole for the pond. It is recommended that the hole is a least 4 feet deep and 4-5 feet wide. Then you would have to install your pond liner. You must install a liner or else you will risk getting debris into your pond from the ground. Then you need to install your filtration system. Flirtation systems can be tricky, so your best bet would be to go into your local pet shop and let them know your needs and dimensions of your pond. Your next step would be to add plants and vegetation to your pond. Types of plants and vegetation you should use depend on the type of climate you live in and can be researched online. Your final step would be to pick out your koi fish and add them to your pond.
Many people do not want this to be the last step in finishing their koi pond but instead add other decorative elements to their pond. These decorative elements can include decorative rocks, sculptures, and decorative redwood bridges which come in many different shapes and varieties. All of these items can be purchased online rather than fishing around at a local store for each item.
Both of these ways are good methods of adding a koi pond to your backyard. You just have to choose which method is best for you. Either way you do it, once your pond is complete it will be there for you to enjoy for years to come.
Contact infomation: 559-325-2597 Joe Guraro info@redwoodgardenbridges.com http://www.RedwoodGardenBridges.com
-------------------------------------------
About the Author
Building Quality handcrafted Redwood Garden Bridges at affordable prices for use in your garden, landscape yard, water garden or pond. Serving the entire USA since 1998.
What Is The Best Fish Food For My Fish?
There are several types of food that will help you give your fish just the right amount of nutrients. This will allow the fish in the pond to grow to the perfect size and be as healthy as possible. All of these foods can be easily and affordably purchased. It is important that you find the perfect food for your pond fish, so that you can keep a healthy and well populated pond for seasons to come.
Nishikoi Pond Foods will provide them with the right balance of nutrients. You can get several types of food that are this brand. For instance, if you have mostly smaller fish and want to feed them more often, you can purchase the Nishikoi Staple Small Pellet. The Medium Pellet can be fed to slightly larger fish or slightly larger groups of fish. If you have many different types of fish in your pond, you may find they have different dietary needs, you can feed them the Nishikoi Pond Cocktail. This food can be good for all types.
There is also Tetra Pond Foods. These are made for regular goldfish and Koi. They come in several varieties, including Tetrapond Sticks, and Tetrapond Pellets. The Pellets come in either small or medium varieties. The sticks are good for long term feeding, or if you have larger fish who would like to eat more. The sticks also encourage socialisation among the fish. The pellets are for ones that need to eat their own food and again smaller pellets are fed to smaller fish more often, while medium pellets can be fed to larger fish, or with a longer time in between feedings.
For your Koi ponds, you want to be sure that you are feeding them the right types of foods. Laguna makes food that is for both goldfish and Koi. These foods can be good because often a pond will have several of both varieties and feeding one simple food can make matters easier for you. King British Pond Fish Foods also makes several varieties that are good for both these types. Again, this brand has floating sticks, which you can feed in your pond. They come in particularly useful if you are going away for a few days as you can leave several sticks on the water. The King British brand also includes variety foods, as well as the Ultimate Koi Food. These foods can be exactly what you are looking for when it comes to making sure that the fish in your pond are well fed.
Omega Pond Pelletsare also good foods because they are made especially for those that live in ponds. This means that the food is formulated to provide your them with the exact nutrients that they might need.
A good point to note! A very good food to have when you are expecting to go on holiday is Tetrapond holiday, this will provide your fish with all the nutrients they need whilst you are away. Also, Tetrapond has Wheatgerm Sticks that can help your fish to thrive.
About the Author
Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For information on fish food, he recommends Seapets, one of the UK's leading suppliers of fish food.
Nishikoi Pond Foods will provide them with the right balance of nutrients. You can get several types of food that are this brand. For instance, if you have mostly smaller fish and want to feed them more often, you can purchase the Nishikoi Staple Small Pellet. The Medium Pellet can be fed to slightly larger fish or slightly larger groups of fish. If you have many different types of fish in your pond, you may find they have different dietary needs, you can feed them the Nishikoi Pond Cocktail. This food can be good for all types.
There is also Tetra Pond Foods. These are made for regular goldfish and Koi. They come in several varieties, including Tetrapond Sticks, and Tetrapond Pellets. The Pellets come in either small or medium varieties. The sticks are good for long term feeding, or if you have larger fish who would like to eat more. The sticks also encourage socialisation among the fish. The pellets are for ones that need to eat their own food and again smaller pellets are fed to smaller fish more often, while medium pellets can be fed to larger fish, or with a longer time in between feedings.
For your Koi ponds, you want to be sure that you are feeding them the right types of foods. Laguna makes food that is for both goldfish and Koi. These foods can be good because often a pond will have several of both varieties and feeding one simple food can make matters easier for you. King British Pond Fish Foods also makes several varieties that are good for both these types. Again, this brand has floating sticks, which you can feed in your pond. They come in particularly useful if you are going away for a few days as you can leave several sticks on the water. The King British brand also includes variety foods, as well as the Ultimate Koi Food. These foods can be exactly what you are looking for when it comes to making sure that the fish in your pond are well fed.
Omega Pond Pelletsare also good foods because they are made especially for those that live in ponds. This means that the food is formulated to provide your them with the exact nutrients that they might need.
A good point to note! A very good food to have when you are expecting to go on holiday is Tetrapond holiday, this will provide your fish with all the nutrients they need whilst you are away. Also, Tetrapond has Wheatgerm Sticks that can help your fish to thrive.
About the Author
Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For information on fish food, he recommends Seapets, one of the UK's leading suppliers of fish food.
How To Make A Koi Pond
This article covers the basics on making a Koi pond. You will be able to plan and build a Koi pond with a circulating pump. You will also learn about the kind of bacteria Koi need to survive and how to make a bacteria containment system. You will learn how to line the bottom of the pond with plastic to keep the water from seeping.
We'll just start out by digging out the Koi pond. Most people like to have small waterfalls to keep the water circulating for the fish. If that's the case, you may want to stack some of the dirt taken from the Koi pond and make a sloping hill for the waterfall.
Once we have the hole dug out, we will need to put in a pond liner which is a plastic membrane made for this purpose. You can get pond liner kits online or at hardware stores.
Part of the pond construction will include a bacteria tank used to keep koi alive. Koi create a certain type of necessary bacteria which keeps the water conditioned for them. These tanks help that bacteria thrive.
Many landscapers will use the bacteria tank as a waterfall to run over rocks and down into the Koi pond. All ponds and waterfalls need a circulating pump. These come in many different sizes according to how high you need to pump the water and how fast you want the flow rate. The pump will need to be placed in the pond, but it needs to be off the bottom of the pond floor by an inch or two. This keeps the pump from sucking up sediment.
Rocks can be a beautiful part of any landscape pond. If you need to make a waterfall from rocks, you can use a rock adhesive/sealant to hold the rocks together. This also fills in holes really well. Natural rocks work the best, but if you're concerned about weight, you can get faux (artificial) rock.
Next, we can fill the pond to test it out for leaks. Once we know the pond holds water we can put all the extras in place to make it look nice. Plants and lilies are a great addition.
Plants can take awhile before they start to take hold and look healthy. We will need to wait for a few weeks before we put the Koi in. It's important to let the water circulate and build up some sediment.
Koi are such a tranquil feature to a landscaping project. They have become so popular recently. I think it's because the Koi are so tranquil when they're swimming around. They remind us to take life easy.
Larry Angell
make-my-own-house
About the Author
Larry Angell is the author of Sweat Equity, building a house at half cost. He runs an instructional website about how to build homes that are strong financial tools, not financial burdens. He counsels low-income families how to obtain affordable housing and reach goals of home ownership.
We'll just start out by digging out the Koi pond. Most people like to have small waterfalls to keep the water circulating for the fish. If that's the case, you may want to stack some of the dirt taken from the Koi pond and make a sloping hill for the waterfall.
Once we have the hole dug out, we will need to put in a pond liner which is a plastic membrane made for this purpose. You can get pond liner kits online or at hardware stores.
Part of the pond construction will include a bacteria tank used to keep koi alive. Koi create a certain type of necessary bacteria which keeps the water conditioned for them. These tanks help that bacteria thrive.
Many landscapers will use the bacteria tank as a waterfall to run over rocks and down into the Koi pond. All ponds and waterfalls need a circulating pump. These come in many different sizes according to how high you need to pump the water and how fast you want the flow rate. The pump will need to be placed in the pond, but it needs to be off the bottom of the pond floor by an inch or two. This keeps the pump from sucking up sediment.
Rocks can be a beautiful part of any landscape pond. If you need to make a waterfall from rocks, you can use a rock adhesive/sealant to hold the rocks together. This also fills in holes really well. Natural rocks work the best, but if you're concerned about weight, you can get faux (artificial) rock.
Next, we can fill the pond to test it out for leaks. Once we know the pond holds water we can put all the extras in place to make it look nice. Plants and lilies are a great addition.
Plants can take awhile before they start to take hold and look healthy. We will need to wait for a few weeks before we put the Koi in. It's important to let the water circulate and build up some sediment.
Koi are such a tranquil feature to a landscaping project. They have become so popular recently. I think it's because the Koi are so tranquil when they're swimming around. They remind us to take life easy.
Larry Angell
make-my-own-house
About the Author
Larry Angell is the author of Sweat Equity, building a house at half cost. He runs an instructional website about how to build homes that are strong financial tools, not financial burdens. He counsels low-income families how to obtain affordable housing and reach goals of home ownership.
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